clown prince

In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.

Sense 1

Meaning · English

A crown prince, seen as a clown.

Register: derogatory, humorous, slang

Where it’s used: Used American English

Examples

On behalf of my family and all my Thai friends I would like to wish the Clown Prince the next King of Thailand A Very Happy Birthday.

Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Sense 2

Meaning · English

Someone seen as eminent in a field, community or regarding an activity (often one whom the speaker has disdain for), seen as a clown.

Register: derogatory, humorous, slang

Sources & notes

Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).

Common questions

What does “clown prince” mean?

A crown prince, seen as a clown.

Is “clown prince” formal or informal?

clown prince is generally derogatory, humorous, slang.